by InTrieste
In a quiet hall of the J.J. Winckelmann Museum of Antiquities in Trieste an ancient mystery unfolds. Rows of bronze artifacts, iron weapons, and meticulously preserved burial goods now bring to life a little-known population from the early days of the Roman Empire: the Ambisontes, an enigmatic tribe that may have occupied the lush Isonzo Valley between the Alps. The exhibition, The Myth of the Ambisontes – Rome’s Mercenaries in the Isonzo Valley, aims to reveal new details about the lives of these ancient people, showcasing artifacts that have spent over a century in fragmented collections across Europe.
Curators Alessio Fabbricatore and Marzia Vidulli Torlo, together with Trieste’s Culture and Tourism Councillor Giorgio Rossi, inaugurated the exhibition on October 30, drawing a crowd eager to learn about this Alpine tribe whose story straddles legend and history. “This exhibition represents a turning point in our understanding of the Ambisontes,” said Stefano Bianchi, Head of Historical Museums in Trieste. “By reuniting artifacts separated since the early 20th century, we’re shedding light on an ancient population that, for centuries, lived only in myth.”
A People Lost to Time, Revived in the Alps
The Ambisontes first emerged in historical accounts from an unlikely source: an inscription on a Roman monument in La Turbie, a village high above the French Riviera. Erected by Emperor Augustus, the monument names 46 conquered Alpine tribes, including the Ambisontes. According to ancient sources, these tribes had lived between Raetia and Noricum, a region straddling modern-day Switzerland and Austria. But for centuries, scholars have debated whether the Ambisontes might actually have inhabited the Isonzo Valley, the picturesque region along the river that cuts through Slovenia and northeastern Italy.
The exhibition leans into this theory, presenting a powerful narrative: the Ambisontes were Alpine mercenaries who likely served the Roman Empire, fiercely guarding local trade routes and defending their mountain homes against neighboring tribes. When off the battlefield, they returned to the rhythms of agrarian life, a theory supported by the ceremonial burial of iron tools and farming implements found in the valley.
Reunited Artifacts: Austria and Italy Bridge a Historic Divide
The exhibit also marks a rare international collaboration. While many of these artifacts belong to the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna, curators have worked tirelessly to bring them to Trieste, reuniting pieces that had been separated by two world wars. Among the showcased items are 80 artifacts from Reka pri Cerknem, an ancient necropolis in Slovenia, displayed alongside burial goods from nearby Idrija pri Bači.
“These collections, separated by history, are now together for the first time in a century,” noted curator Marzia Vidulli Torlo, who played a pivotal role in facilitating the partnership between Vienna and Trieste. “It’s a powerful reminder that archaeology transcends borders.”
The exhibit itself, in its arrangement and selection, reflects the hybrid culture of the Ambisontes. Celtic-style jewelry sits beside Roman armor fragments; Celtic agricultural tools from the La Tène period are interspersed with Augustan-era Roman weaponry. The exhibition offers visitors a glimpse into a society that, though independent, fell under Rome’s powerful influence after the foundation of Aquileia in 181 B.C. Over time, locals became Roman soldiers or guards, tasked with defending sensitive sites across the Isonzo Valley.
Myth or Reality?
The Ambisontes are not just historical footnotes but symbols of the Isonzo Valley’s deep cultural roots. For Trieste, the myth of the Ambisontes carries a lasting allure. As Councillor Giorgio Rossi remarked, “The recent surge in visitors to the Winckelmann Museum is a testament to the interest people have in uncovering regional histories like this. It’s proof of the work we’re doing to preserve our shared heritage.”
Scholars may still debate whether the Ambisontes were genuinely native to the Isonzo Valley or if they merely passed through as Roman soldiers. Yet, for visitors, the intricate display of jewelry, tools, and arms creates a rich tableau of an ancient world, a world of shifting loyalties, frontier cultures, and the blurred lines between history and myth.
For now, the artifacts and the stories they hold are united at the J.J. Winckelmann Museum in Trieste, open until March 9, 2025. Here, visitors can explore the legacy of the Ambisontes, the mercenaries of Rome who may have once walked the same ground, bringing a timeless myth of resilience to life in the Isonzo Valley.
For information, visit www.museoantichitawinckelmann.it.
